Indicating means for turntables and the like



April 25, 1933. H. o. HAVEMEYER, JR 1,905,707

INDICATING MEANS FOR TURNTABLES AND THE LIKE Filed April 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR M ATTORNEY April 1933- H. o.- HAVEMEYER, JR 1,905,707

INDICATING MEANS FOR TURNTABLES AND THE LIKE Filed April 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 18 1+ 1 /I a!!! 20 WIWIIII "WWI INVENTOR M ATTORNEY improved circuit closing switchembodying a yieldably mounted switch member. pro- UNITED "OFFICE *nnnnrdnnvnnnvnaua, or MAHWAH, new JnRsEY "mnron rnve rims on runnrnis nns AND THE L'IKE Application filed" was; 1930. Serial no. 441,747.

' This invention relates toindicating means I forturntables and theilike, -and has for'its trolled signalling device arranged in the general object and purpose'to provide simple and reliable operating means foriindicatin toxthe attendant or operator of a mova le structurejtheaccurate alignment of saidstructure' with relatively fixed structures with? which: the i movable structure is adaptedlto cooperate. i: a t. a i

In one practical embod" entof the invention, I providegupon a track supporting rotatable platform or table an electrically-conoperators house or cabin, togetherwith an jecting radially beyond the peripheryofthe platform and adapted to cooperatewith fixed contacts-molinted with respect 'tospaced tracks extending radially with respect. to the platform, whereby'the operator is ap prised of the arrival of -the track on the rotatable platform in accurately aligned p0 sition' with any one of the' relatively/fixed tracks. a

It: is another in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in'the subj'oined claims.

' In thedrawings, wherein Ihave illustrated one simple and practical embodiment of .the invention, and in whichsimilan reference characters, designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,.

object invention. to provide improved means for. mounting .the'

Figure 1 illustrates one practical embodiment of my present improvements as applied to a rotary platform or turntable;-

1 Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View of one of the circuit closing means, certain of the parts being shown in section; ';Fig. 3 isasectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and

F ig. 5 is aside elevation of one of the fixedcontacts and the mounting therefor.

Referring in detail to the drawings, .5 des- I ignates the rotary table or platform which is mountedin an opening indicated at 6xproe vided in a surrounding flooror structure -7. A plurality of equi-distantly spaced tracks 8 radiate from the edge of theopening 6, and a track '9 also extends diametrically across the platform 5. Upon said platform, a small cabin or house indicated'ati 10 'isprovided for the attendant or operator. Any suitable mechanism operated by an electric motor may be provided for driving the turntable 5; VVhile' for purposes :of explanation, I have referred to the track 9 on the turntable, it will be understoodthat my present invention might: also be usefully employed in connectionwith a lifting crane, elevator orthe like mounted on the movable table 5 to be selectively positioned in relation to any one ofzthe tracks 8.

In the operators cabin 10, twosignal (1'9 7 conductors 12 with thenegative side of a current supply circuit. Thesesignal devices are also connected by the conductors l3j and M respectively, to'circuit closing member's mounted upon a peripheral wall: ofthe'plat form 5 at diametrically opposite points. hereinafter morefully described, illustrated The circuit closing members are preferably constructed and. arranged as shown' in Fig. :3 of the'fdrawings and consists of .a rod 15 mounted at one of its ends for axial movement in an insulating sleeve 16 secured within the bore of a bushing 17 suitably secured as by means of the bolts 18"at one of its ends to the platform or turntable 5; Thisbushing is externally threaded to receive an adjustable sleeve 19 through which the rod 15 extends, said rod being movable through the insulating collar 20 in the outer end of the sleeve 19. Between said end of the sleeve and the end of the bushing 17 a. collar 21 of insulating material is also fixed upon the rod 15 and'between the opposite sides of the collar and the bushing and the collar 20, the coil springs 22 and 23 respectively, are arranged upon the rod 15.

To the end of the rod 15 within the bushing a pin 24 is suitably secured and projects beyond the periphery of the turntable for engagement with a fixed contact to be presently described. It will be evident from this description that by adjusting the sleeve 19 on the bushing 17, the springs 22 and 23 might be compressed to a desired extent to project the pin 24 for the required distance beyond the periphery of the turntable, thereby also regulating the resistance offered by the spring 22 to the inward movement of said pin and the rod 15 through the bushing 17 In the face of the opening 6 surrounding the turntable 5 and centrally between the rails of each track 8, a supporting means for an adjustable contact member is secured. This supporting means consists of a base 25 of insulating material set into a suitable recess in the face of the opening 6, and the complementary parts 26 also of insulating material and secured to the base 25 by screws 27. These parts with the base 25 are in turn rigidly secured to the floor or structure 7 by screws indicated at 28.

Each of the parts 26 has a relatively thick portion provided with a convex face 29 which projects beyond the plane of the face of the opening 6. The opposed ends of these parts 26 are spaced apart and the rear faces thereof opposed to the base 25 are recessed as at 30. These recesses receive the lateral ly extending flanges 31 of a T-shaped metal contact strip, the other flange or central web 32 of which extends vertically between the opposed ends of the parts 26. Set screws threaded in these parts are adapted to engage the flanges 31 of the contact strip to rigidly fix the same in position against vertical movement. As clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the edge of the flange or web 32 of the contact strip projects beyond the convex faces 29 of the parts 26. The end face of the pins 24 of the movable circuit closing members on the platform are beveled at opposite sides of the pin center as shown at 34, said beveled surfaces extending vertically so that they will engage and ride over the projecting edges of the flanges 32 of the contact members.

The rod 15 and pin 24. are suitably held against turning or rotating movement relative to the supporting bushing 17, and as herein shown, this may be conveniently done by providing the wall of the insulating sleeve 16 with a key-way indicated at 35 to receive the end of a pin or screw 36 which secures the circuit closing pin 24 in connection with the end of the rod 15.

The several fixed contact members arranged around the turntable and mounted in the manner above explained, are connected by the conductor indicated at 37 with the positive side of the current supply circuit for the indicating devices 11.

From the above description, the operation of the device will be readily understood. Thus, in the rotation of the turntable, and as the track, crane or elevator arranged thereon approaches a position in alignment with a selected one of the tracks 8, the pins 2% of the two circuit closing devices carried by the turntable at opposite sides thereof will engage with the diametrically opposite contacts at the edge of the opening 6, the beveled faces of the pins 25% first riding upon the convex surface 29 of one of the members 26 and being thereby forced inwardly as the pin approaches the contact member, the spring 22 being gradually compressed. Thus, when the beveled faces on the ends of the pins 24 strike the projecting edges of the flanges 32 of the contacts and ride upon the same, when the pins arrive at the position shown in Fig. 2 with respect to the contact flanges, the springs 22 will have been further compressed, thus exerting a strong outward pressure upon the rods 15 and insuring a constant tight contact of said pins 2% against the flanges 32. Thus, the circuits are simultaneously closed through the two indicating lamps 11 so that the operator is apprised that the tracks or cranes upon the platform 5 have arrived at positions in accurate alignment with the fixed tracks 8 at the opposite sides of the platform so that he may operate the controller to stop the rotation ofthe plat form.

When the edge of the contact flange 32 be comes worn through constant engagement of the pins 2 therewith, thev screws 33 may be loosened so as to permit of thevertical adjustment of the contact strip, and thus bring another portion of its edge into posit-ion for engagement by the movable circuit closing pins 24, thereby maintaining the necessary close frictional. engagement between the parts to insure proper closing of the circuit.

From the above description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have devised a very simple, practical and efliciently operating means for such rotary turntables and analogous structures. The several parts of my invention, are of relatively simple form, and can be easily and quickly assembled and applied in operative position with respect to the fixed and movable parts of the turntable. After being once installed, the. indicating device is entirely automatic in'its operation and will requirea minimum of care and attention on the'part of the operator. I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the automatic circuit closing or switch means, but it will be understood that in the furtherpractical development of the invention, the same may be susceptible of more or less modification in the form, proportion and relativearrangement of its detail parts, and I therefore, reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. I

I claim: v 1. In combination with a rotary part, electrical circuit closing means including a fixed contact adjacent the-periphery of said rotary part, a spring pressed circuit closing member,

carried by said rotary part and radially mov able with respect thereto for engagement with the fixedcontact, and means for regulating the frictional pressure of said circuit closing member upon the fixed contact.

2. In combination with a rotary part, elec-' trical circuit closing means including a fixed contact adjacent the periphery of said rotary part, a guide bushing carried by said rotary part and extending radially thereof, a movable circuit closing member mounted in said bushing for engagement with the fixed contact, an adjustable sleeve threaded on the bushing, and a spring mounted in said sleeve urging saidmember into'yieldable engagement with the fixed contact, the tension of said spring being regulated by adjustment of said sleeve to compensate for wear and regulate the frictional pressure of the circuit closingmember upon the fixed contact.

3. In combination with a rotary part, electrical circuit closing means including a fixed contact adjacent the periphery of said rotary part, a guide bushing carried by said rotary part and extending radially thereof,

a movable circuit closing member mounted in said bushing for engagement with the fixed contact, an adjustable sleeve threaded on the bushing, a spring mounted in said sleevejurging said member into yieldable engagement with the fixed contact, the tension of said spring being regulated by adjustment of said sleeve to compensate for wearand regulate the frictional pressure of thecircuit closing member upon the fixed contact, and means for adj ustably mounting. said fixed contact to present different partsthereof for engagef ment by said circuit closing member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as v my inventioml liavesigned my name hereto. HENRY HAVEMEYER, J R. 

